Sometimes, setting is everything. The Enchanted Evenings concert series is back at Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, featuring an eclectic mix of well-known Vancouver musicians from different genres and backgrounds. The series is now in its 22nd year, and draws its roots from when local musician Qui Xia He came to the Garden with a novel idea.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the classical garden, the outdoors concert is always a treat. Audiences can pre-order a picnic-style dinner, or indulge in a variety of wine, beer, and other non-alcoholic beverages. The intermission gives plenty of time for concert-goers to stretch their legs along the many walkways. Admission is included in the ticket price, which makes this summer series light on the pocket while being truly enjoyable on the ears.

Vancity Buzz interviewed series creator Qiu Xia He to find out more about Silk Road Music’s upcoming performance on August 20.

1) What is the history of Silk Road Music?

I immigrated to Vancouver and decide to continue my music career, forming Silk Road Music in 1991. In China, I was a trained professional musician and taught the pipa. I came over to Canada on tour and ended up staying in Vancouver to continue with my life. After a while, I realized that I didn’t want to do anything but play music, and it’s become my full-time pursuit for the last 20 years.

Since then, Silk Road Music has been traveling all around the world, and is currently on tour in Canada and the United States.

2) What’s special about the Enchanted Evenings concert on August 20th?

Our collaborator this year, Davide Sampaolo, just arrived one year ago from Rome. His passion is playing the Spanish cajón – a wooden box commonly used in flamenco music. Davide is trained in flamenco style, and is used to accompanying singers, dancers and guitars. Because of that, there’s a heightened sensibility of listening to dynamics and rhythm patterns.

For the Enchanted Evenings concert, I have the intention of bringing something new every time. We have to refresh ourselves as our loyal audiences know what we do already.

3) Why did you establish the Enchanted Evenings series?

When I first began playing music in Vancouver, the garden was a beautiful space, but it was very still. It was like an old museum with a closed door. Now it’s so vibrant; when I sat in the beautiful Chinese garden, I thought, why not add music? It’s just a magical setting, I love the spot.

When we began, people didn’t know about the series so we had to really get the word out. The garden has put a lot of effort into making it happen, especially since the attraction has become quite the hot spot over the years. Gradually, the program started changing to accommodate the local community. It’s become a very eclectic mix, because Vancouverites are very open to fusion and different cultures. That’s who we are.

Four artists are serving up a delectable Chinese candy box of artistic expression, just in time for the Lunar New Year.

This personal gift to Vancouver audiences starts out so warm and casually you might be caught off guard by some of the transcendent interdisciplinary imagery it comes up with.

At the beginning of the show, local dance artist Wen Wei Wang arrives on-stage singing with Beijing Modern Dance Company performer Gao Yanjinzi, pipa player Qiu Xia He, and video and sound artist Sammy Chien. From there, the mood is fun and easy: when Wang announces they’re all “Made in China”, Chien begs to differ, because he’s from Taiwan.

Each of them takes turns addressing the audience, telling us how they got into their art form, from He’s mother coaxing her into music to avoid being sent to the country to work to Chien talking about how he used to play with his dad’s camera.

But Wang’s true story about seeing his first ballet at six in China and coming home to try dancing, draped under one of his mother’s scarves, leads us into a dreamlike realm where the rest of Made in China dwells. To the sounds of He’s haunting singing, the one-time Ballet B.C. dancer moves like a graceful ghost under a cloud of gauze.

Amid other striking imagery, the supple Gao throws a huge silhouette on the back screen, articulating her fingers in the most exquisite bit of hand-shadow-play you’ve likely ever seen. And Wang shows the imagination for using traditional props that we saw in his hit works like Cock-Pit, with its phallic pheasant feathers, and Unbound, with its foot-binding slippers: in one segment, he and Gao dance with giant, fluttery fans fastened like alien masks to their faces.

Chien’s live-manipulated video and sound techniques bring a contemporary richness to it all, from the calligraphy-like blotches that move with Wang’s shadow in one segment, to the walls of static that blow apart from him and Gao as they clang cymbals. Seeing Chien sitting on the stage, working his technology, is also cool in juxtaposition with He, strumming her ancient four-string pipa.

Identities: The Documentary Series is heard Sundays at 4PM, and begins on October 6th featuring Robi Botos. The series will then continue on October 13th with Sophie Milman. Additional broadcasts will take place on October 20th with Qiu Xia He; October 27th with Waleed Abdulhamid; November 3rd with Anwar Khurshid; and November 10th with Roberto Lopez and Ivan Tucakov.

Click through to the Jazz.fm91 website for more details; you can listen to the broadcast there as well.

Silk Road Music had a wonderful time at the Vancouver Folk Festival last weekend. The response from the audience was heartwarming! We felt so rewarded because of their enthusiasm and reaction.

To continue with all the excitement, we really want you to know about the upcoming concert at the magical Chinese Garden. A rare opportunity of having Silk Road’s long term friend Celso Machado to join us for this Enchanted Evenings. He is special to all of us!

Please make sure you come down to see us and try not to wait to the last minute to get your tickets, because every year we sell out. We apologize to those friends who didn’t get in last year at the gate. Seating is really limited. so, we recommend you make reservations. Thank you very much!

Silk Road spins a world tapestry of music and dance. An award-winning ensemble founded in Vancouver in 1991, the ensemble pioneered Chinese-Western musical fusion and continues to be at the forefront of new artistic directions.

For Dance Allsorts, Silk Road presents Steps on the Road, conjuring the world on one stage with vibrant imagination, weaving through sound and steps, imprinting their global vision with some of Vancouver’s finest dancers with roots from around the world.

Finally our new CD has arrived!!! Standing Out is a fantastic quality recording resulting from years of study and research. With some of our favorite artists and the Dream Maker Studio, the disc represents the best of our latest work. We proudly announce it as our Lunar New Year's gift!

On Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 pm, Jou Tou will take part in Vancouver Symphonique, a show written and directed by Isabelle Longnus. The UBC Symphony Orchestra will perform under the direction of conductor Jesse Read, with orchestration by Alain Mayrand.

On August 12, Silk Road staged another memorable concert at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. It was a warm, lovely evening and the place was packed—one of the biggest crowds I've ever seen there.

Qiu Xia and Andre were joined by Liam MacDonald on percussion and with flamenco dancer Michelle Harding repeating her success at last year's concert. They played a mix of old and new—but even the old familiar songs sounded new, because they always find some new interpretation even for their standards.

Qiu Xia displayed some budding talent as a flamenco dancer too, and got a round of applause for her steps.

I hope to post some video clips from the concert when they're available.

Following last year’s study in Jerez, Spain, Silk Road returns with a Flamenco fervour. With the fine percussionist Liam MacDonald and the exquisite dancer Michelle Harding, Qiu Xia and Andre step forward and celebrate 20 years of artistic vision with their company - Silk Road Music.

Founded in Vancouver in 1991, the ensemble pioneered the kind of Chinese-Western musical fusion that one now hears in acts ranging from The Sparrow Quartet to Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road project. It has blended Chinese folk and classical music with Celtic, Latin, Arabic, Aboriginal, jazz, and blues music. It developed two exciting educational programs to bring world music to school children.

Through many concert performances, Silk Road Music has earned a Juno nomination, two West Coast Music Awards, two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, and countless enthusiastic reviews.